Safety First

Health & Safety Services

Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization

The American Heart Association PEARS Provider Course is designed to teach you lifesaving evaluation and intervention skills. These skills can be used in both the in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings. Because the PEARS Provider Course covers an extensive amount of material in a short time, you will need to prepare for the course beforehand. The PEARS Systematic Approach, the “evaluate-identify-intervene” sequence, and the management of respiratory and circulatory problems. The PEARS Systematic Approach Algorithm and PEARS Systematic Approach Summary are covered while participating in case discussions and case simulations. The course uses the AHA PEARS Provider Manual and the AHA PEARS Pocket Reference Card.

The American Heart Association’s PEARS Course helps healthcare providers develop the knowledge and skills needed for emergency evaluation and treatment of seriously ill infants and children. PEARS teaches providers how to recognize respiratory distress, shock and cardiac arrest and how to provide appropriate lifesaving interventions within the initial minutes of response until the child is transferred to an advanced life support provider. It also emphasizes the resuscitation team concept. The goal of the PEARS Course is to improve the quality of care provided to seriously ill or injured infants and children, resulting in improved outcomes.

Upon successful completion of the course, students receive an AHA PEARS Provider Card, valid for two years.